Strange things happen to softball teams when they visit Florida International.

That even applies to Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns, who begin a four-game Sun Belt Conference weekend series against the Panthers with a noon doubleheader today and two more contests on Sunday.

The Cajuns have dominated the series with FIU since they began play in 1999, owning a 20-3 lead, but all three defeats have come in Miami.

Florida International won 3-0 in 2001 and posted an eye-opening doubleheader sweep on April 20, 2003 with 2-0 and 2-1 wins.

That year's Cajuns advanced to the school's fourth appearance in the Women's College World Series, so it might have provided a wake-up call for their stretch run, but they're not fond of Sun Belt defeats.

"I'm not saying we're going down there for revenge, but we're definitely not going there to lose like we did two years ago," UL second baseman Brittany Bryant said.

The Cajuns were a perfect 18-0 against SBC teams in 2004, have won 25 straight regular-season Sun Belt contests and have a 14-game streak on the road in conference action. They've never lost a Sun Belt series and are 65-5 all-time in league action.

"We don't think of ourselves as a target," insisted UL co-head coach Michael Lotief. "I challenge the team to approach every series as if it's a regional environment.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com